ABCD turns 40: Service agency is a product of the United Methodist Church

Advocate for Black Community Development has not wavered from its commitment to serve the Canton community.

By Charita Goshay

The Repository

By Charita Goshay

Posted Jun. 29, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 29, 2013 at 9:18 PM

By Charita Goshay

Posted Jun. 29, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 29, 2013 at 9:18 PM

CANTON

In its bid to help heal the chaos and the painful aftermath of the killing of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the United Methodist Church created Black Community Development, an initiative to help foster economic opportunity and equality.

Four decades later, one of the fruits of the United Methodist Church’s effort still thrives locally.

Since its founding in 1973, ABCD has not wavered from its commitment to serve the Canton community.

At its offices at 1225 Gross Ave. NE, president and CEO Will Dent and several board members recently spoke about ABCD’s past, its present and its future goals.

TRANSPORTATION

Dent said the United Methodist initiative was introduced locally by the Rev. George and Liz Short, who learned about it at a conference in Chicago.

Advocate of Black Community Development was launched from the basement of the James S. Thomas United Methodist Church.

“We added the ‘advocate’ to the BCD,” Dent said.

In 2008, the agency changed its name to “ABCD.” Today, ABCD is perhaps best known for its “Dial-A-Ride” transportation service.

Board member Shirley McReynolds said that when people ask her what ABCD does, she tells them that a large portion of the agency’s focus is dedicated to Dial-A-Ride, which transports people to medical appointments, jobs and other venues. Launched in 1978, average daily ridership is around 100.

“Then I can get into the various things we’ve done,” she said.

HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES

ABCD has a contract to transport dialysis patients to Cleveland for treatment. The service has increased to more than 2,000 trips a month, and covers medical facilities across the state.

“Pretty much, people know what we’re all about,” said Melvyn Meadows, board chairman. “But if I had to accentuate one aspect, it would be transportation. We’ve grown to be multifaceted, offering housing opportunities that some people wouldn’t have except for Habitat for Humanity.”

Through 11 partnerships, ABCD also has built 300 single-family homes, three senior-citizens complexes, and a multi-unit complex for farm-worker families.

It also has offered job training services to more than 1,000 people, including programs for ex-felons; has operated several small businesses and has helped organize the Minority Business Association and nearly two dozen neighborhood associations.

“We’ve done so many things important for the community at large,” Meadows said. “But it all begins with transportation, in my mind.”

ABCD has a staff of 35, the majority of whom are drivers.

FUNDING WHACKED

Dent said about 65 percent of the agency’s $1.2 million budget comes primarily from Medicaid, for transporting dialysis patients. He said the agency hasn’t fully felt the effects of federal cutbacks through sequestration, but he worries about what the state legislature might do about Medicaid spending.

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“I’m expecting more cuts to come,” he said. “If Medicaid gets whacked, that will be devastating.”

Dent said the board is trying to make up the difference, through fundraising projects, and that the agency is looking for ways to become more entrepreneurial and less reliant on government grants. For instance, Dent said, ABCD has contracted with SARTA for Pro Football Hall of Fame festivities, and with the Canton Charge.

The board is spearheading “40 For 40,” a $40,000 fundraising campaign to help cover services related to dialysis transportation.

“The storm is coming,” Dent said. “We just don’t know when.”

SOCIAL ACTIVISM

Daniel Preacher, ABCD’s development specialist since 2008, said the agency is located in the neighborhood where he grew up.

“What attracted me is they offered a lot of programs to help the poor and under-served,” he said.

A social activist in the 1960s, Dent has been ABCD’s only CEO and president. He plans to retire within the next few years.

“He’s dedicated and tireless,” Meadows said. “He has tremendous vision, dedication and commitment. Will has a way of putting his vision into everyone else’s minds. He always finds a way to make things happen.”

“I’ve never seen a CEO who’s at every meeting and event, but he’s here,” McReynolds said.

“He does a lot for the community, and in the community,” said longtime board member Mary Claiborne.

“We’ve had hard knocks. College didn’t teach me this,” Dent said, laughing. “But I haven’t been alone. This agency hasn’t been built by one person.”